Perou Decouverte
Perou Decouverte
The Ocongalla Aqueducts, a 1,500-year-old Nasca hydraulic system. Restored heritage and ingenious irrigation techniques — your complete guide.
The name “Ocongalla” is a Quechua word meaning “place where the water emerges from the earth”. These are open-trench aqueducts or channels through which groundwater flows, filtered from the melting snow of the Andean peaks.
Built around AD 500 by the Nasca civilization, these aqueducts allow visitors to witness water emerging from the depths of the earth. The site is surrounded by medicinal plants such as willow and castor.
For their construction, the Nasca people used river stones (canto rodado), extracted from the Nazca River, to irrigate the surrounding cultivated fields.
Ocongalla offers an enchanting setting, where you can walk into the upper trench and watch the water cascade toward the small lagoon.
Although similar to Cantalloc as part of the hydraulic system created by the Nasca culture, Ocongalla stands out for its distinctive design.
The site is located south of the province of Nazca, after the airfield, on the road leading to the archaeological site of Cahuachi. Accessible on foot or by vehicle.
Discover a unique landscape and an impressive example of the ingenious hydraulic engineering of the Nasca civilization. This archaeological site, which made life and agriculture possible in the desert, offers an exceptional natural and historical setting.
Ocongalla is more than just an archaeological site: it is a lesson in sustainable engineering, an oasis of tranquility, and a window into how ancient civilizations adapted to environmental challenges.
Before your visit: Due to recent alerts regarding the conservation state of the site (cracks, partial collapses), it is strongly recommended to check with local authorities or travel agencies in Nazca for the current accessibility of the Ocongalla Aqueducts.
Also check recent weather conditions, as rain can affect access roads and the stability of structures.